Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4487

Incident date

February 26, 2020

Location

قرية بيلون في جبل الزاويه, Billion village in Jabal Al Zawiya, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Four victims from the same family were killed by pro-Assad regime or Russian planes as an airstrike hit the town of Balion on February 26th. Information about the attack emerged on February 28th.

Numerous tweets reported the death of the four victims, including @syr_television, thethr Zaitun Agency, and Smart News put forth the same information that a man, his wife, and two children perished during a Russian airstrike in Balion. Kana posted that the family was originally from Kafranabel, but were internally displaced and settled in Balion. The Syrian Civil Defense volunteers removed the bodies on the 28th after civilians in the area discovered them.

The names and ages of the victims were not released.

Shaam News reported that local activists said the family were hit as they were attempting to move a motorcycle near the home where they were living.  Balion is a town replete with internally displaced persons (IDPs) and did not have military significance.

SMART and Step News Agency blamed Russia for the airstrikes, whereas Shaam mentioned both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers retrieve the bodies of a family killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on February 26, 2020. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Civil Defense volunteers retrieve the bodies of a family killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on February 26, 2020. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Civil Defense volunteers retrieve the bodies of a family killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on February 26, 2020. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]